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No charges for two arrested after body found in car

Two people arrested on suspicion of manslaughter after the wife of a prominent businessman was found frozen to death in the back of a car will not face criminal charges, an inquest heard today.

The body of Nicole Falkingham, who was estranged from her husband Jonathan Falkingham, the chief executive of property developer Urban Splash, was found in a car in January.

A post-mortem examination showed that Mrs Falkingham, 41, from Allerton, Liverpool, died of hypothermia and acute alcohol intoxication.

Following her death police arrested a man and a woman, both aged 48, on suspicion of manslaughter

At a mention hearing at Liverpool Coroner's Court, Coroner Andre Rebello said he had today received a file from the CPS in relation to the investigation into the former PA's death.

He said: "The Crown Prosecution Service has now determined that there is insufficient evidence to place before a criminal court."

The hearing was attended by Mr Falkingham who told the coroner he was "disappointed" with the CPS's decision.

The case was adjourned for another mention hearing on August 19 with a view to a full inquest being held in October.

The night before she died Mrs Falkingham had been socialising with the couple who owned the black Vauxhall Insignia car in which she was found.

Police said that Mrs Falkingham had been drinking at The Vinci bar on Allerton Road with the man and woman and it is believed the three left the bar together.

Police were then called to the address at Eastwood, in Otterspool, Liverpool, by the couple in question shortly after 10am on Friday, January 25.

Mrs Falkingham's body was in the rear of the car and she was pronounced dead at the scene.

Soon after arriving officers also discovered a cannabis factory with about 100 plants at the address and the couple, from Aigburth, were arrested on suspicion of manslaughter and cultivation of cannabis.

They were released pending further inquiries.

Urban Splash, which is based in Manchester, is a leading property developer, having created landmark residential and business properties across the UK.

It is known for transforming derelict buildings and bringing them back into use, most notably the famous Art Deco Midland Hotel in Morecambe, Lancashire, and Birmingham's Fort Dunlop.

Bradford-born Mr Falkingham, an architect, was a co-founder of the company, where his wife was formerly a PA.